Report: Mitsuoka, Omigawa, Walel Watson cut by UFC

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source: fightersonlymag.com

Reports of his departure were followed shortly afterwards by a report from MMA Opinion, which said another four fighters had been cut.

They are Eiji Mitsuoka (0-2 in the UFC), Michihiro Omigawa (1-6), Tommy Hayden (0-2) and Walel Watson (0-2).

The UFC has not made the cuts public or official, in keeping with its policy, but the names have been removed from UFC.com

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tags: Eiji Mitsuoka (detail) Michihiro Omigawa (detail) Walel Watson (detail)

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10/3/12 8:47 PM by Beggsie

Suck to see Omigawa get cut, he would always bring it.

10/3/12 7:44 PM by KingofBJJ

Japanese fighters just aren't cutting the mustard, IMO. They should probably stay in the smaller weight classes where they can be more of a force. Much like the Hispanics in boxing.The UFC needs to bring in more Brazilians, because those guys are badasses.MMA has only been in the USA since UFC 1, but MMA technically has been in Brazil far longer.

10/3/12 5:12 PM by RKing85

Can't say I am surprized by any of those cuts.

10/3/12 4:15 PM by NorthFromHere

Speaking of Jason Young (1-3 in the UFC) it seems pretty likely that he be will also cut after losing to Peralta last Saturday.

10/3/12 3:53 PM by Wasa-B

Regarding both Kawajiri and Hansen, i think their times have passed. They are def not in their primes anymore i dont think - def not Hansen and though Kawajiri i think could have def been a force in the UFC FW div, i think its too late now. Kawajiri signed to One FC and probably the right place to ride out his career. I think had he cut to FW earlier and trained and climatized himself to the cage a few years earlier, i think he could have been a decent contender in the UFC FW div but the game is moving fwd so fast right now and though he is a pretty rounded fighter and unusually strong for a Japanese fighter, i still think the game (to be a top 5 guy in the UFC FW div) has probably passed him by now.Like Aoki though, he is def a lot better than he showed in his only major American fight against Gil. He looked terrible and completely lost. Remember that he had a very close bout vs Gil the first time in Pride and had just beaten Josh Thomson (who had a very close trilogy with Gil) prior to his SF fight but showed probably only a small fraction of what he was capable of. Gil did prepare well though, throwing those knees in the clinch to prevent Kawa's vice clinch grips.

10/3/12 3:48 PM by Wasa-B

Yeah, though Omigawa went 1-4 upon his return as a FW and should have been 2-3 by most accounts, that's still not impressive. He has been a complete bust imo coming back as a FW and a pretty disappointing one at that. Elkins and Young were 2 guys he absolutely should have been able to beat and dominate/finish if he were to remotely establish himself as a top guy. Yeah, sure, he was robbed by most accounts by Elkins but it wasnt dominant as should have been imo and was not dominant enough against Young either. Manny and Alcantara were even or good matchups that he should have been game enough for and would have been good Ws to have. Didnt see either of them, believe he was said to have possibly tapped vs Alcantara though not sure if its was conclusive and got dominated otherwise. I think the Manny fight was competitive (and pretty similar in matchup against 2 short, powerful judo guys with good striking power but not much in the way of striking finesse).Mendes was a good run to the title and he is still regarded as a top guy so not that disappointing there (he did have Chad in a good armbar) and was putting the pressure on him late but Mendes was still able to outwork Omi where/when it counted.Good point on him TKOing Nam Phan back in WVR in Japan. Also worth noting that he came back flying high as a FW contender back to the UFC largely because of 2 very favourable decisions against Sandro and Hioki - 2 fights that I dont think anyone thought he won.I do think he has been disappointing and an unfullfilled talent though as he is a strong FW (stronger than most japanese fighters), has a good grappling base from judo. He was actually I believe one of the top guys in his weight in Japan at some point and also had a good ground game in judo but never really put it too good use in MMA. He has striking power and a helluva chin and is tough but he had that weird poor man's peek-a-boo boxing that just left him plodding and grinding away in the wrong way I thought.IMO, he could have employed a game like Randy too good effect - strong in the clinch, good striking power and uppercuts at close range, put his judo/clinch tds to work then work the GNP to a TKO or sub but like most Japanese fighters (like the talented Akiyama) just did not put it together at all. Mitsuoka was not really worth the sign up in the first place.

10/3/12 2:32 PM by NorthFromHere

Hellboy is fighting in Shoot Boxing S-Cup next

10/3/12 2:23 PM by Chris27

Yeah of course I'd love to see Crusher in the UFC but considering he is with OneFC it doesnt look like thats gonna happen anytime soon.What about Miyata and Hellboy?

10/3/12 2:20 PM by stevia's sex slave

Kawajiri would smash some featherweights IMO. I'd love to see it.

10/3/12 2:08 PM by Tomato Can

I bet Doo Ho Choi ends up in the UFC eventually.Would really love for them to sign Kawajiri. He's getting a little old but I'd like to see him get a shot at some elite FWs before he retires, and I don't think OneFC can offer him that. Takaya would be cool too but doesn't really excite me quite as much.

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